(652c) Fabrication of Functionalized Aerogels from Cellulose and Whole Biomass for Absorbing Formaldehyde from Indoor Air

Aerogel is an extremely light material with porous network structure, low density and high specific surface area. These properties bring it many prospective applications such as gas storing medium, gas sorbent, and gas filter. In the present study, a novel method was developed to fabricate cellulose/biomass – chitosan blended aerogel as functionalized biosorbent to remove formaldehyde from indoor air. The aerogel was prepared from cellulose/biomass and chitosan in concentrated LiBr solution via a process consisting of dissolution/dispersion, gelation, washing, solvent exchange, and drying. Because of the high porosity, large surface area, and free amino groups, the resultant aerogel can react instantaneously with formaldehyde and remove it irreversibly from indoor air. The results indicated that at cellulose – chitosan ratio of 2:1 (w/w), the resultant blended aerogel had density of 25 mg/cm³ and specific surface area of 245 m²/g. In a stationary chamber with initial formaldehyde concentration of 25 mg/m³, the functionalized aerogel adsorbed 86% and 97% of the formaldehyde within 1 and 4 h, respectively, with an adsorption capacity of approximately 53 mg formaldehyde/g aerogel.